Parachute and safety-belt



L. B. SPERRY.' -PARACHUTE AND SAFETY BE`LT. APPLICATION FILED MAY I7, 1918.

Patented Feb. 22,1921.

LAWRENCE BURST SFERRY, 0F MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK.

PARACHUTE AND SAFETY-BELT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Fei. ze, 1921.

Application led May 17, 1918. Serial N0. 235,188.

To all wlw/m, it 1n/ay concern:

lle it known that I, LAWRENCE B. SrnRnY, a citizen of the United States ofv America, residing at Massapequa, L. I., in the county of Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements.

in Parachute and Safety-Belts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to parachutes, and especially to parachutes adapted to the use of aviators in escaping from aeroplanes or other aerial craft.

One object of the invention is to provide a safety belt or support which may be easily put on, and which the aviator cannot fall out of.

.y Another object is to provide means for insuring the opening of the parachute when falling through" the air.

Referring to the drawinrrs wherein l have shown what I now considber to be the preferred form of my invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a parachute in its open condition.

F ig. 2 is an elevation of the parachute just before opening.

Fig. 3 is a view of the safety belt or support.

Fi 4 is a view. showing a method of arranging the parachute to be placed on the aircraft. l

Fi 5 is a fragmentary detail showing possi le points of attachment of the parachute ropes to the parachute body.

In the drawings, 1 represents the body or inflation portion of the parachute, having an opening 2 at its top and a cord 3 attached to the top. The lower edge of the body may comprise a strip 4,01 comparatively stiff fabric which is preferably cut on the bias. The parachute ropes or cords 6 may be secured directly to the main part of the body 1 as at 7, Fig. 5, or to the strip 4 as at 8, Fig. 1.

' All of the cords 6 are shown as terminating in a ring 9, to which may be fastened a sling 10, shown as comprising a pair of ropes or straps 11 and l2 spread by a member 13.

Any suitable means such as snap hooks 14 may be provided on the straps 11 and 12 for attachment to a support 15 adapted to be secured to the body of the aviator.

The said support 15 mayl comprise a belt 16, a seat portion 17 and a pair of looped members 18 adapted to serve as straps to lit around the legs of the aviator. Thebelt 16 is referably provided with a suitable quick loc ring means, which muy comprise a pair of inter-fitting members 20 and 21` each fastened t0 one of the ends of the belt und adapted to be locked together by a pin 22. Theseat member 17 may comprise a strap of suitable width. fastened at its two ends 24 and 25 to thebelt 1G. The leg members 18 may be integral with or fastened to the seat strap 17, and while they may be provided with buckles for fastening them around the legs of the aviator, l have shown them as being completely closed. rlhis necessitates stepping into the loops, but affords a saving of time which would other- Wise be consumed in securing the buckles.

It also lends a greater element of safety to the device by minimizing the number of parts to be fastened. thereby reducing the possibility of some of the parts beinginadvertently or carelessly left unqsecurcd. A pair of rings 26 may be provided on the support for attachment to hooks 14.

Theaviator will of course wear the safety belt or support While occupying his place in 29 is shown attached to the top of the bag for attaching the same to the aircraft. The bottom of the bag is shown as provided with a opening 30. l'arge enough to pull the para chute through.

When the aviator jumps out of the craft. l

he Will drag the parachute out from the bag.

1n order tov cause the body portion of the parachute to stream out as in Fig. 2 so as to faclhtate its opening to the air instead of bundling up and falling unopened to the' tached yparts willthen be as shown in Fig. 2. 1

The sti'ness of the lower edge 4 ofthe parachute as well as the biased condition of `the fabric will tend to causethe lower part to' flare outwardly as shown at 5. This will cause air to enter the parachute and force it open. i

In accordance with the provisions ofthe patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of operation of in invention, to-A gether with the apparatus, w 'ch I now consider to regresent the best' embodiment thereof, but desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onl illustra- `-tive and that the invention can out by other means. Also while it is decarried signed to use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of thesel may be altered andothers omitted without interfering with the vmore general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use. A

Having described my invel'itlion,y what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a parachute, `an iniation portion, a

strip-of diagonally cut fabric secured along the edge thereof and cords attached thereto.

2. In combination, a parachute, including an `infiation portiona strip of diagonally cut fabric along the edge thereof, a vplurality of cords attached thereto and a belt member attached-to saidcords.

3. A device `for suspending an aviator i from a parachute, comprising a belt portion adapted to be placed around the waist of the: aviator, means for .locking said portionin closed position, a seat stra attached to said belt rtion and a pair o loo d members attac ed to said strap and a around the legs of the aviator.

4. A device for suspending an aviator'V parachute, comprising abelt portlon adapted to be placed around the waist froma' o f the aviator, means f or locking said rt1on in closed position,j.a seat strap attac ed to sald belt portion, and means for attach- 5. In a parachute, an iniiation portion, a' stripof diagonally. cut stiff or coarse fabric secured along the edge thereof for tending to open said inflation portion and cordsat- ,tached to said parachute.

mon attaching means on Asai cords.

In testlmony whereof I have aiixed my signature.

LAWRENCE BUR- sfr sP-ERRY.

apted to fity .45 lng said device to the strings of a parachute. l

, lty

of cords attached to said ed e and a oom- 

